On the eastern bank of the Narva River lies the beautiful city of Ivangorod (Leningrad Region). It became borderline after Narva already belonged to a neighboring state. The date of foundation of this settlement is 1492. It was then that the Moscow prince Ivan III built a fortress on this place, which was later named after him. It was built opposite the Estonian fortress of Narva. Perhaps that is why in many German documents it is referred to as "counter-Narva".
What is the first thing to see when you arrive in Ivangorod? The sights of this settlement include in their list many interesting places and structures, the main of which is the fortress, which laid the foundation for the city. Until now, only a few fragments of this structure have been preserved. Initially, it was a quadrangularbuilding, at the corners of which there were four square towers. The walls were built from local limestone, and their thickness reached 3 meters. They ended with battlements, where loopholes were located. Thanks to numerous restorations, the fortress has changed and expanded significantly. Now it is a complete architectural ensemble, towering on Maiden Hill, which is washed by the waters of Narva on three sides.
Continuing to explore Ivangorod, its sights can be supplemented with buildings of a religious nature. Thus, the Church of the Holy Trinity is the family burial vault of the Stieglitz family; it was built in 1873 in the style of historicism, vividly conveying elements of Russian architecture of the 17th century. Brick was the main building material. Ultimately, the building is a five-domed structure, the foundation of which is laid out in the shape of a cross. A bell tower was built above the western entrance, where ten bells are placed. The interior decoration is renowned for its richness and sophistication.
But these are not all the attractive buildings that Ivangorod is famous for. Sights include in their list a number of interesting buildings, including the Assumption Cathedral, located on the Kingisepp Highway. Together with the small Nikolskaya church, they form a single architectural ensemble.
In addition to viewing architectural structures, an excursion to Ivangorod involves visiting the Narva waterfalls, which are considered the largest in Europe. The energy generated with their help served as the basis forconstruction of a flax-spinning canvas cloth factory. These waterfalls are located in an old dry river bed. There is only one small feature: you can see them only a few days a year in the spring, when excess water descends from the Narva reservoir. The rest of the time it's just big rocks.
What else to see when you come to Ivangorod? Sights can be supplemented with a list of numerous museums, including the Ivangorod Art Museum, which consists of three objects: a fortress, an art gallery and the museum itself. The latter contains a large collection of works by Bilibin, which is complemented by works by other artists. The art gallery constantly hosts various exhibitions, showcasing new talents.
